HISPANIC LITERATURE'S EDGAR A. POE: QUIROGA
Hispanic Literature’s Edgar Allan Poe Did you know Hispanic literature has its own Poe? His name is Horacio Quiroga (1878–1937), born in Uruguay and later settled in Argentina. Like Poe, he explored horror, madness, death, the bizarre, and the fatal side of human nature. Quiroga’s life was marked by tragedy: suicides in his family, the deaths of close relatives, and even the accidental killing of a friend. At 22, he discovered Poe, whose influence he openly acknowledged throughout his life. He became a teacher, photographer, explorer, and lived for years in the jungle — an experience that deeply shaped his dark vision. His fame began with El almohadón de plumas (1907), and many of his titles reveal his obsessions: El vampiro , El hombre muerto , Anaconda , and the unforgettable collection Cuentos de amor, de locura y de muerte . One of the most shocking stories in that book is “La gallina degollada.” It tells of a couple...